Apparatus for reclaiming used petroleum products



Feb. 10, 1931. c, v, u u 1,791,809

APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING USED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Filed May 17, 1929 2 Shee ts-Shet 1' A TTORNE Y Feb; 10, 1931. I c v FUQUA 1,791,809

APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING USED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Filed May 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (a I v '95 @3 INVE TOR Clam/ice @KM WM,

A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 10, 1931 CLARENCE V. FUQUA, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI -APPARATUS FOR BECLAIMING USED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Application filed May 17, '1929. Serial No. 363,736.

The present invent-ion relates to apparatus for the treatment of petroleum fluids, and has one particular reference to the purification of cleaning solvents such as are employed in the dry cleaning industry. One primary purpose in view is to devise improved equipment whereby the cleaning fluids or solvents insuch plants, after becoming charged with 'dirt and other impurities, maybe more efficiently and economically purified and clarified for reclcaning purposes.

In carrying out this purpose, I employ a novel form of apparatus for subjecting the fluid to a double bath in which the fluid is brought into intimate contact with the necessary chemicals for effectually removing the foreign matter, and a continuous flow of the fluid is maintained through the apparatus for producing a substantially continuous operation of the purifying process.

It is a further object to devise a system of operation in which the movement of the fluid through the apparatus is maintained by a static head cooperating with the fluid supply means to produce a uniform and continuous flow of the liquid through the successive liquid treating compartments.

It is also sought to improve generally liquid treating apparatus of this character, as hereinafter described.

With the foregoing general objects in view my improvements will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of apparatus which I have devised for the practice of the invention, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be set forth and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and representing a section taken on the line II of Figure 3; and 7 Figures 2 and 3 are front and side elevations, respectively, of the same on a smaller scale, with portions of the casing broken away to disclose parts otherwise hidden.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, these illustrate my improvements as embodied in a tank structure, preferably of cabinet form, comprised of a casing 5 which maybe of any requiredsize, and divided by suitable partition members 8, 9, 10 and 11 into a pin rality of chambers orcompartments asshown in Figure 1. The liquid or cleaning solvent to be treated is conducted by means of a supply pipev 6 into the first of these compartments or chambers,namely the compartment 7, the liquid being delivered into the compartment under pressure by pump action from the dry cleaning plant or other system,the pipe line 6 including pumping machi nery, not shown. The discharge end of the pipe 6 is turned upward, for discharging the liquid into the compartment in an'upward direction for facilitating the release of any air and venting the same through an air vent pipe 17 communicating with the upper end of the compartment 7. The height of this pipe 17 is of whatever 'extent may be necessary to maintain a sufficient static head to overcome the resistance ofiered to the flow of the liquid through the tank structure, as herelnafter described. The bottom compartment 12 of the tank structure, below the compartment 7 and beneath the downwardly converging partition members 9, is designed to contain a supply of a heavier liquid chemical 14, either an alkali or an acid, to act as a saponifying or emulsifying agent, being conducted into said compartment through an inlet pipe 25 :until the level of theiliquid 14 extends at least to the upper margin of the partitions 9. From the underfaces of these partition members 9 is suspended a series of baflle plates comprising'closely'spaced grid bars 16 projecting downwardacross the chamber 12 into the path of'the liquid flow and adapted both to distribute the flow thereof and to produce as thorough and complete an intermingling of the liquid and chemical as possible during the course of the solvent through said chamher. The last baflie or grid plate 16 is prov jected slightly outof vertical position for somewhat greater distributing efieot upon the liquid as it starts on its upward course from the compartment 1 -2 into the lower end of a second upright chamber 18 at the'right hand end of the tank structure. It will be understood that when a flow is set up through the compartments or chambers 7, 12 and 18, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, diiterent levels will be established for the liquid 14 in the chambers 7 and 18, as indicated at and 21, respectively, the higher level 21 being reached in the compartment '18. The levels 20 and 21 also indicate the strata which will be formed by the accumulations of the products of the saponifying or emulsifying process these strata or oap beds further acting as nlter screens for the trapping of impurities in the liquid flow and tending to prevent the same from passing on out above the level of the stratum indicated at 21. Adjacent to the latter location I also mount a skimmer device in the form of an inclined baffle plate 23 secured to the outer wall of the chamber 18 and projecting inwardly at an incline and therebyforming a sump or drain chamber 24 which I provide with a suitable valved outlet pipe 25 see Figure 3) through which any accumulation or residue of waste matter may be removed from time to time.

The chamber 18 is adapted to overflow through a conduit pipe 27 connecting the upper end of said chamber with the upper end of a third chamber or compartment 29 at the opposite side of the partition 8, the conduit pipe 27 being; provided with a vent pipe 30 open to the air at its upper end, the vertical extent of the pipes 27 and 30 being sufficient to maintain the requisite static head for overcoming the resistance offered to the flow of the liquid through the compartment 29, and thence through a fourth compartment 32 formed within the tank structure above the partition members 9, as illustrated in Figure 1. This chamber or compartment 32 is also designed to be supplied with either a rinse water bath or a chemical cleaning medium, such as an acid solution in case the chamber 12 is supplied with an alkali, this chemical 33 being supplied to the chamber 32 through a suitable inlet pipe 34. The discharge end of the chamber 32 communicates with the lower end of a fourth upright compartment 35, which is the final separating chamber in the chemical treating operation, the chamber 35'being formed between the left hand partitions 8 and 10, and having a discharge pipe leading to a suitable storage tank (not shown) for storage of the purified solvent ready for use in th cleaning plant. As the flow takes place through the chambers 29, 32 and 35, as indicated by the arrows, a similar diiference of levels 20 and 21 will be established for the liquic 33 in the lower ends of the chambers 29 and 35, as was the case with the liquid 14, these levels representing the strata composed of the impurities floating on the heavier liquid 32. A shielded opening 31 is also provided in the upper end of the partition 8 between the compartments 18 and 29. From volume of the flow at the storage tank the solvent is returned to the present apparatus by way of a return pipe connecting with the vertical pipe 41 let down throughthe top of the compartment 35 and into the lower end of a trap compartment 42 provided. between the parallel partitions 1O separating the trap compartment from the upright compartments or chambers 29 and 35, the lower ends of the partitions 10 being connected by the converging bottom partition member 11 separating the trap compartment from the compartment 32. As illustrated in Figure 1, the bottom member 11 also serves as a means for suspending a series of spaced battle plates or g'id bars 45 similar to the arid members 16 and acting upon the flow of liquid through the compartment 32 in the same manner as the grid members 16 functionin the compartment 12. I prefer also to locate perforated balile plates 46 in downwardly inclined position with the compartments 18 and 35, above'the levels 21 and 21 respectively, to further screen the flow of any impurities.

lVithin the bottom of the trap chamber 42, and above the intake from the pipe 41, I mount a perforated metal plate or screen 47. I also provide a filter cloth construction within the chamber 42 and comprising a bag 48 of suitable cloth or turkish toweling which is carried by a frame 49 supported upon angle pieces 50 at the sides of the chamber 42, said bag being provided with a frame device 51 carried within the and adapted to dist nd the same and maintain its lower portion adjacent to the upper face of the screen plate 47, as shown in Figure 1. The frame 49 also carries a second filter element in the form of a fine mesh silk cloth 54 having edge portions attached to frame, so the cloth 54 may balloon upwardly under the influence of the flow of the liquid, and the collapsing of the cloth from time to time, under the intermittent action of the flow, will facilitate the release of any trapped particles in the liquid from the cloth so that the same may settle within the bottom portion of the trap. The trap chamber is provided with a removable cover member 55, and near the top of the chamber a service pipe is connected for conducting off the solvent in its final purified condition to the cleaning equipment of the plant, this pipe being provided with a sight glass 57 to permit the operator to view the actual condition and V ll times. 1 Pipe 41 and chamber are fitted with air vent pipe connections 58. which are joined together as indicated in Figure 1 and in turn communicate with the main air vent pipe 17 leading from the first separating chamber 7, and above the static head in the pipe.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be noted that I provide steam and water pipe connections 61 and '62 respectively, titted with suitable valves 63, and having branch pipes also fitted with or steam spray pipes 64 65'and 66 located in valves 63, and leasing to water the bottoms of the compartments 1'2, 32- and L2, rcspectively.v as shown in Fi ure 1. By means of these connections, the interiors of said chambers may be subjected to either a steam or water treatment at any time, and thereby thoroughly cleaned by the draining and removal of all foreign'mattcr, for which purpose drain outlet pipes 6'? (also fitted with valves 68), are provided, as illustrated in Figure 2.

lVith reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will pipe 25, fitted with a valve 26 for draining from the chamber at the same level as the drain pipe for chamber 1 8, and that each of said chambers T and 18 is al o provided with a drain cut-l'etTO, for draining from said compartments at the same level, at some distance above the pipes 25,.t'he object being to provide a drainage means some distance above as well as below the chemical levels 20 and 21, respectively, in said compartments.

The shield 31 around opening 31 permits trapping of light foamy residues on the liquid surface above the opening, said residues later gradually settling down to the level 31.

At one end of. the structure I provide iydrometer t st cup device comprisinga cup member 72 fitted with a gla'ss tube 73 and communicating by way of avalve T4; with the lower portion of the chamber or compartment 18-. The tube 78 is provided with the usual hydrometer auge device7-1 whereby a test maybe madegfrom time to time as to the specific gravity of the liquidinthescompartment or chamber 18, thecup member 7 2 being provided with a drain cock 69.

At the front of the apparatus 1 provide sight gauge devices whereby the operator may observe the liquid condition in the tanks 7 and 35, each of said devices comprising a gauge glass 7 to which the liquidis admitted from said compartment by way of valves controlled by levers 76 having their opposite ends connected by chains 77 for the purpose of causing said valves to open or close in unison. As a safety factor in case of firev the lower operating lever 76 of each valve'is also provided with a chain 78 anda weight element 79, together with a fuse linlr 80 connected that in case of fire the melting of said fuse link will release the weight and automatically close the valves and thereby prevent 85 positioned within said compartment and having the steam supply thereto regulated by a valve 86 which is automatically controlled by a. thermostat device 8:? with which is connected: athermoresponsive element 88 projecting into the liquid within the compartment 12 so that the'contents therein will'be maintained at a substantially uniform temperature.

In the operation of the apparatus, the cleanand maintain said even flow throughout the 7 several compartments of the apparatus until it enters the trap chamber 42. The. principal separation of the impurities from the liquid is effected. by means of thealkali solution in the chamber 12 where a most effective and intimate intermingling of the liquids is caused to take place by the action of the grid plates 16, resulting in the formation of soap beds at the levels and 21, due to the accumulations of the products-of the chemical reaction; these. soap beds, moreover, form filter screens for mechanically separating the impuritiesfrom the fluid as it. passes therethrough. It will be noted also that the compartments 7 and 29-through which the flow occurs'in a downward direction are of smaller cross-sectional area than the upflow compartments 18 and 35, the upward-flows being therefore relatively retarded so as toaflord ,reater opportunity for precipitating any oreign matter fromthe liquid. As the flow enters the compartment 18, the baffle or skimmer member 23 forming the sump or trap; compartment 24L serves to collect some ofthis foreign matter which is drained ofl'from'time to time through the adjacent, pipe 25. On overflowing from the compartment IS-into the compartment or chamber 29, the solvent is subjected to a further purifying treatment, either by a plainrinse water bath by means of water in the compartment 32, or a more or less chemical action by means of" an acid solution in order'to neutralize any traces of alkali left in the solvent,.the grid plates 45 acting to eflect a thorough mixing of the liquids while passing through the chamber 32. The solvent continues its flow through the chamber. from which: it passes throughthe discharge pipe 37 to the main reservoir, and thence-back through the/pipe tothe pipe 41 and into the trap 42. Up to this point, all air is released from each of the separating cham bers'into the vent pipes I7 and 30. In the trap. chamber 42, the usual mechanical filtration is effected as already indicated, and the solvent placed in its/final purified state, free of all moisture, chemicals and foreign matter, ready for use'as dra'wn off through the service pipe 56*.

A thermometer instrument 81 may also be attached to the tank to facilitate the accurate setting of the thermostatic control.

vVhile I have herein shown and described one embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangements of parts nor to the specific embodiment herein shown, but that new numerous deviations from the illustrated formor embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the principles 1 thereof; I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank structure comprising an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment of greater cross-sectional area than said first compartment, and air vent means communicating with said first compartment and adapted to maintain a static head suflicient to maintain a continuous even flow of the fluid throughout its course through said compartments. 7

2. In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank structure comprising an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment, a plurality of grid baflie plates intercepting the flow through said intermediate compartment, and combined fluid pressure feed and static head means operative to maintain a continuous even flow of the fluid throughout its course through said compartments.

3. In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank'structure comprising an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment, an upwardly inclined baifle and partition member projecting in position to skim the flow of liquid in the lower end of said last compartment and providing a sump for collecting the waste material from the liquid, and means for maintaining a continuous even flow of the liquid throughout its course through said compartments.

4. In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank structure comprising two series of separating compartments, each series including an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment, means providing an overflow from the last compartment of the first series into the first compartment of the second series, and combined fluid pressure feed and static head means operating to maintain a continuous even flow of the liquid throughout its course through both series of said compartments.

5. In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank structure comprising two series of separating compartments, each series including an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment, a combined air vent and static head connection providing an overflowconnection from the last compartment of the first series into the first compartment of the second series, and combined fluid pressure feed and static head means operating to maintain a continuous even flow of the liquid throughout its course through both series of said compartments.

6. In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank having a U-shaped partition structure dividing the interior of the tank into a series of separating compartments, each series including an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment of greater cross-sectional area than said first compartment, baifle members carried by said partition structure in position to intercept the flow through said intermediate compartment, means providing an overflow connection between the second upright compartment of the first series into the first upright compartment of the second series, and means for maintaining a substantially continuous even flow of the liquid throughout its course through both series of said compartments.

7 In fluid-treating apparatus of the character described, a tank having a U-shaped partition structure dividing the interior of the tank into a U-shaped series of separating compartments including an upright receiving compartment having its lower end communicating with an intermediate compartment discharging into the lower end of a second upright compartment and forming also a trap compartment between said upright compartments,means for maintaining a substantially even flow of the fluid through said separating compartments and from the second upright compartment into said trap compartment, and a series of baflie members projecting from the bottom of said trap compartmentinto position to intercept the signature.

CLARENCE V. FUQUA. 

